December 1, 2007

JOHNSON'S 16 POINTS LEAD BULLDOGS IN 71-37 VICTORY AT HOME

SOPHOMORE COURTNEY SCHERMERHORN SCORED 10 FOR THE BULLDOGS IN SATURDAY'S WIN

SMITHFIELD, RI - Behind a game-high 16 points from junior guard Cara Johnson (Endicott, NY), the Bryant University women's basketball team toppled UMass Lowell, 71-37, at the Chace Athletic Center Saturday afternoon.

The Bulldogs were looking for redemption after a disappointing 79-49 loss on the road to Assumption College Wednesday night, and that's exactly what they found, coming back to .500 in the Northeast-10 Conference (2-2) and moving to 3-2 overall with the victory.

The Bulldogs stole the momentum right out of the gates, passing the ball smoothly around the key and hooking up a number of times to take an early 7-2 lead.

Four assists early in the game from big forward Kelsey O'Keefe (Warren, Mass.) saw Bryant go up 14-6 with just over 12 minutes to play in the half. The Bulldogs spread the scoring wealth, getting points from seven different shooters in the first half, led by Johnson's eight, including 11 of their 36 first-half points off the bench.

The Riverhawks (1-4, 0-4 NE-10) found points from five scorers before the half, led by Liron Asher's seven. Bryant outrebounded Lowell, 22-16, before the break.

But what allowed the Bulldogs to go on a run that saw them enter the half up, 36-20, was the team's strong defensive effort, particularly that of Johnson.

Bryant stayed consistent in the second half, shooting at a 39.3 percent clip for the game while the Riverhawks dropped to 15.4 percent shooting in the second half for a game average of 23.1 percent.

Barring the first basket of the game, scored by Lowell's Rahshala Valentine, Bryant never trailed in the 71-37 victory. Johnson led from the field, making good on 6-of-14 attempts including two treys. Sophomore Courtney Schermerhorn (Lowell, Mass.) chipped in 10 in the winning effort while O'Keefe registered a game-high nine boards and nine points of her own. Senior Liron Asher led the Riverhawks with nine points and seven rebounds.

Saturday's game also allowed the Bulldogs to get their younger players some minutes off the bench, as all five freshmen saw action in the victory.

Bryant will next face off against rival Bentley College, Tues., Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m. in the Chace Athletic Center.